Be a Donor, Save a Life

Today I go in for my regular platelet donation at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO). So I am giving another plug today for blood donation. I've made this a priority after the many times that Kristen needed platelets. I admit that I get a little nauseous during the process but the Phlebotomist is able to make adjustments to make me more comfortable. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR A BLOOD DRIVE TO GIVE. THERE ARE BLOOD CENTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND I'M SURE THERE IS ONE NEAR YOU.

First some simple facts about blood usage.

SOME EXAMPLES OF AVERAGE BLOOD USE:
-People older than 65 use 43% of all donated Blood. The demand for Blood and Blood products will increase as the population ages.
-25% of all Blood products are used to treat cancer patients.
-One out of every ten people entering a hospital requires Blood.
-Severe burn victims can need the platelets from about 20 Blood unit donations during their treatment.
-The average liver transplant patient needs 40 units of red Blood cells, 30 units of platelets, 20 bags of Cryoprecipitate, and 25 units of fresh frozen plasma.
-Using modern techniques, one heart surgery uses, on average, the red Blood cells and platelets provided by from six Blood unit donations.
-People who have been in car accidents and suffered massive Blood loss can need transfusions of 50 units or more of red Blood cells.
-An organ transplant can use 40 units of Blood; 30 units of platelets; 20 bags of cryoprecipitate; and 25 units of fresh frozen plasma.
-The average bone marrow transplant requires the platelets from about 120 donations, and the red Blood cells from about 20 Blood unit donations.


Apheresis Collections:
Apheresis is a special kind of donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as plasma or platelets. Blood is a mixture of red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets. Blood is drawn from the donor's arm through sterile tubing into a specialized instrument which separates the blood into components. The desired component is collected in a special bag, and the remaining components are returned to the donor. Apheresis collections allow CBCO to carefully control our inventory. It is our goal not to waste a drop of this precious community resource. Apheresis donations give us the ability to manage the flow of blood to our area hospitals, maximizing your donation!

Types of Apheresis Collections: Plateletpheresis, Double Red Cells

Plateletphereis:
Plateletphereis is a platelet donation. The process allows you to give just part of your blood - platelets. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets collect at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear. Platelets then activate substances in plasma which form a clot and allow the wound to heal. Platelets can only be stored for five days. During plateletpheresis, blood is extracted from the donor's arm and mixed with a solution to keep it from clotting. Then it goes into a sterile disposable set installed on the blood cell separator. When the blood is in the separator, platelets are removed. The rest of the blood - plasma, red cells and white cells are returned to the donor. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours to complete. It is longer than a regular donation because it takes extra time to separate the blood components and collect the platelets. Platelet donations are needed daily to replenish the supply.

Platelets are used for:
Patients who are undergoing treatment of serious problems like leukemia, cancer and aplastic anemia.
Patients who may have uncontrolled bleeding.

Criteria for Donating Platelets:
Anyone meeting the criteria for a whole blood donor may donate platelets. There is a restriction. A donor may not donate if he/she has taken aspirin or products containing aspirin within thirty-six hours prior to the planned donation.

How Often Can I Give?
Generally a person may donate platelets as often as every forty-eight hours but no more than twenty-four times a year.

Double Red Cells
If you happen to have Type O blood or any RH negative blood type, you are a perfect candidate for double donations - giving two units of red blood cells in one visit. This is an excellent alternative for those who cannot visit the blood center as often as they'd like.

Criteria for Donating Double Red Cells
A Double Red Cell donation takes about an hour and has some special requirements.
- Your iron level (hematocrit) needs to be at least 13.5 hgb.
- Height to weight ratios are slightly different.

How Often Can I Give Double Red Cells?
Since your donating a double dose of red cells, you'll not be allowed to donate red cells again for 112 days.